600 Calories
My wife is a good person. A really good person, actually. We have been together for close to twelve years now. She has always been supportive of me through thick and thin (pun intended!). Today I appreciate all of the efforts she attempted, to help me lose weight.
A few years back, not so much.
We never called it losing weight, but rather “getting healthy”.
She never told me I was unattractive, huge, or anything like that. I am glad because I wouldn’t do well with that.
No, I met a woman who loves me unconditionally!
My favorite story of her trying to help me lose weight happened a couple of years back. She really wanted to focus on better snacks. Not even healthier snacks at the time but portion-controlled snacks. I was at home watching TV and my wife just got back from grocery shopping. I helped her bring in the stuff when she said something I have never heard her say before:
“Honey, I bought you some Oreos.”
Oreos?
She bought me Oreos, which was weird because earlier that week, she was telling me how concerned she was about my health. Oreos are not the healthiest snack in the world and they do have quite a few calories in them.
Oreos!
I was looking through all of the bags and I did not see any Oreos. I knew what an Oreo bag looked like. I could even detect the crinkling of the bag. I could spot the blue anywhere.
Now I probably would have rather had Soft Batch or something by Pepperidge Farms, but Oreos would do just fine.
“Hey, they forgot to give you the Oreos.”
“No they didn’t. They are right here.”
She pulled out a box that said 100 Calorie Packs OREO Thin Crisps.
I remember getting my hands on this box and staring at it.
This was the first time I have ever seen a 100 calorie snack pack. I have never been really good with snack packs.
No, the snack pack of pudding and fruit jello really never hit the spot for me. Shocker, since I could have eaten a Buick at 400 pounds and still be hungry for a barn.
But looking at this box, it did seem like the bag was overflowing with cookies. Maybe they was a special 100 calorie pack.
Also, I noticed there was no cream filling. I am pretty sure that is what makes an Oreo. Kind of like getting a M and M without the candy shell. On the box, I saw some white dust. Maybe they sprayed some new cream filling on each cookie.
I smiled and thanked my wife. At the time, I was insulted, but I would never tell my wife that. I know now how hard it is to help someone you love lose weight. Dare I say impossible?
But, she could have gotten me some real cookies!
So I opened the box, and tried one bag.
In about 1.2 seconds I was done with the bag.
I couldn’t believe it. I mean, they were not even that good, yet they were in my belly fast. I remember looking in the little bag a second time just to see if I missed any, hiding in a secret compartment or something.
Not satisfied, I ate another bag, and then another.
In about 53 seconds, I finished the box. 600 calories of bland dry cookies.
Although I never did anything about it, I realized something about me that still holds true to this day. As much as I want to do great with portion control, it is still such a struggle. Changing the way I eat really is the best move I have ever made. I do watch my lean meats and fat-free dairy, but it is a good feeling that I can eat a good amount of vegetables. I am different, which I can live with. Today my snacks are a lot different. Filling and healthy!
When my wife saw that I ate the whole box of “Oreos” she looked at me funny.
” You know, you were only supposed to eat one pack.”
I starred at the box.
“I don’t see any directions for the 400 pound person on here. Sorry.”
We never discussed the 100 calorie snack again.
Be well!
Tony
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Aug 15, 2012 @ 08:49:00
This is such a great story Tony. I love how light-heartedly you are able to share!
Aug 15, 2012 @ 10:34:00
Thank you Alisa. I try to relate to others in every story I have without being condescending. It is tough at times but I seem to make it happen from time to time.
Aug 15, 2012 @ 10:03:00
I love the honesty and truthfulness of this post. I have never been a fan of a 100-calorie snack pack. I, like you, want to keep eating until I’m satisfied, and a bunch of cardboard cookies is not going to do it! Thank you for sharing your truth, which I think takes some of the ‘guilt’ and charge off of those behaviors when we bring them to light. Besides, I’ve found that a hard boiled egg and a handful of carrots, or a granola bar (at 120-150 Kcal) is MUCH more of a ‘real’ snack for me than those tiny bags…..and if I want a cookie, I’m going for a REAL cookie!
Aug 15, 2012 @ 10:34:00
I have realized that I eat to eat. So why not put something a little more healthy in my mouth.
Aug 15, 2012 @ 10:40:00
This is a great story and so true…you can never just stop at one with the snack packs!
Aug 15, 2012 @ 11:57:00
The 100-calorie snack packs are BS. Portioned crap is still crap (and it’s neither filling, nor nutritious…nor even tasty!). You now this. But the food industry will do anything to make us think we’re eating “healthy” @@ <——that's me rolling my eyes.
Aug 15, 2012 @ 19:53:00
I also am not a fan of the snack packs. I find that they don’t help me to acquire the healthy lifestyle that I am striving to have. Just because it’s only 100 calories doesn’t mean that it’s good for you. And, like you, I would jut eat the whole box anyway. My husband is losing weight by counting calories, which allows him the “luxury” of eating treats. I am working on losing weight by changing the foods I eat, eating healthier foods, not just watching the calories. There is more to food than just calories, your food is fuel for your body. Your body runs better on better fuel. This is also the reason I couldn’t do WW…it allowed me to eat junk and still stay within my point range…but it wasn’t making me healthier.
Sep 11, 2012 @ 14:13:00
I do much better with some nut butter on a celery stick. Cookies just make me more hungry.